'Worst possible timing': Farage's Reform UK meets as new donation scandal hits

Reform UK, a hard-right political party led by Nigel Farage, held its annual conference in Birmingham amid a fresh donation scandal. The party was accused of breaking electoral law by allegedly securing a foreign donation to fund opinion polls. Two senior party officials, James Orr and Dan Jukes, resigned on the eve of Farage's keynote address following an undercover investigation by Channel 4 News.

The party claimed the resignations were pending an internal probe. Reform officials reported the party to the police over claims of accepting funding from a US firm for three opinion polls commissioned earlier this year. The alleged donors were undercover reporters from Verbatim, not the purported donors. Metropolitan Police confirmed they were aware of the reports.

Farage insisted the party had broken no laws and was a victim of entrapment. Reform had been leading Labour in polls until late July but has since slipped behind, with Farage facing intense scrutiny over his finances and Labour enjoying a boost under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The party's financial troubles are compounded by a £5 million donation from crypto-currency billionaire Christopher Harborne, which Farage claims was for his security and was received before he was elected.

Reform's main focus is anti-immigration policies, particularly ending illegal boat arrivals on England's southern coast. The party currently holds only eight seats in the 650-seat Westminster parliament despite securing 14% of the vote in the 2024 general election.